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Former Jaguar Terrance Knighton made a key play Sunday to help Denver go to the Super Bowl

Just a year ago, Terrance Knighton’s career was in free fall.

The former Jaguar defensive tackle suffered a serious eye injury when he was hit by a bottle in a club incident, struggled with weight issues, lost his starting job and started only four games in 2012.

He hit the free agent market last March and signed a modest two year $4.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos where he was reunited with former Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, now the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.

And he resurrected his career with the Broncos, becoming a starter again.

In the AFC title game Sunday, he made a key fourth down sack of Tom Brady. And now he’s going to the Super Bowl.

The sack that got Knighton noted in a lot of the highlights came when the Patriots called a timeout, facing a fourth-and-three situation at the Broncos 29 with 2:30 remaining in the period. They trailed 20-3.

“At first I wasn’t going to be in (the lineup) after that timeout,’’ Knighton said in the locker room according to the Denver Post.

“But then I thought, I have to be in there. It was going to be a moment. And I was ready for the moment,’’ he said.

He lined up opposite Patriots veteran guard Logan Mankins, pushed past Mankins, veered to his right and sacked Brady for a 10-yard loss. The Broncos got the ball back and and went on to win, 26-16.

“I’ve been watching film on (Mankins). The last game when we played them I felt that I could have done the same move on him. The protection lined up right. It was the same thing I’d been seeing on film. I knew exactly what I was going to get. I knew what type of block he’d give me. I had to make the play. I did what I was supposed to do,’’ he said.

Had the Patriots gone in to score a touchdown on that drive, they would have trailed only 20-10 with a quarter to go.

Knighton also played a role in Denver shutting down the Patriots’ running game.

He got plaudits from his teammates.

“Terrance made a big play and beat a Pro Bowl guy. Terrance can do it all. He can stop the run and rush the passer,’’ said defensive end Robert Ayers.

Defensive end Shaun Phillips said Knighton has good moves on the dance floor.

“He’s got rhythm. He’s got some moves. He’s pretty light on his feet. I think that helps him in football,’’ Phillips said.

A change of scenery from Jacksonville to Denver has helped jumpstart Knighton’s career.